THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (Feb. 25, 2025) – HARC’s headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® certification for superior energy performance. HARC is one of fewer than 50 certified net-zero energy office buildings in the United States and the first in Texas. This is the seventh year that HARC has earned the certification.
“Our building is a living testament to our mission and values,” said HARC CEO John Hall. “Every day, we show The Woodlands, the broader Houston community, and the state of Texas that sustainable buildings are feasible, affordable, and beautiful.”
Completed in 2017, HARC’s building leverages a high-performance building envelope that significantly reduces heating and cooling needs, shaded windows and office layouts that reduce electric lighting, on-site solar energy generation, and an innovative geothermal heating and cooling system. The campus is also home to more than 70 native plant species and unique landscape features that filter rainwater and help prevent flooding.
Learn more about HARC’s living lab.
“Since HARC’s building was constructed, our team has worked diligently to optimize its performance” said Christian Jones, Clean Energy Research Assistant at HARC. “ENERGY STAR® certification is an excellent way for us to share our work with the community.”
The geothermal system and solar array were installed from the start, but maintaining ENERGY STAR® certification has required continuous monitoring, fine-tuning of lighting controls, plug loads, and HVAC operations to ensure peak efficiency.
“Sustainable building takes planning and execution, “said Hall. “I’m proud our board and staff have committed to both to exceed performance targets, achieve net-zero energy operations, and demonstrate what’s possible for high-performance, energy-efficient buildings.”
ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide, based on weather-normalized source energy use that takes into account occupancy, hours of operation, and other key metrics. ENERGY STAR® is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to protecting our environment,” said Cindy Jacobs, chief of the ENERGY STAR® Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR® certification.”
On average, ENERGY STAR®-certified buildings and plants use 35 percent less energy, cause 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate than their peers—all without sacrifices in performance or comfort.
For more information about ENERGY STAR® for Buildings and Plants, visit www.energystar.gov/buildings.
About HARC (Houston Advanced Research Center)
HARC is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit research, policy and program implementation organization that forges sustainability solutions and improves the quality of life of people for generations to come. Learn more at www.harcresearch.org or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
Contact
HARC – Domonique Green
281-364-6058
[email protected]
